Who: Fred Weasley and Michael Corner
What: Michael's job interview
When: Tuesday afternoon works!
Where: Weasleys Wizard Wheezes: Diagon Alley branch
Why: Cause Michael needs to make a living too, okay??



Michael had always thought his first job interview would be for the Ministry so telling his father and step-mother that he planned to apply for a position at the twins' shop had been humbling. They had understood though they also pointed out that Michael would eventually need a "real" career no matter the affairs at the Ministry. Despite those words ringing in his ears, Michael dressed in a smart blue summer suit and apparated toward his future.


He arrived with ten minutes to spare and walked confidently into the store toward his insides really were warring. He tried to remind himself he was interviewing with the twins for Merlin's sake, but that did little to ease his nerves. They hadn't exactly been his biggest fans, after all. But that had been a long time ago, hadn't it?

A long time ago, perhaps, but Fred had never been overly fond of the Ravenclaw. He didn't appreciate a sore loser, and that's just what Michael Corner had always been. It wasn't so much that he and Ginny had broken up, but the reason that left Fred bitter.

Still, it wasn't as if it were Zacharias Smith interviewing. And, if he got too irritating, Fred would carefully shift the schedules so George typically wound up with whatever shop he was working. Sadly, that didn't make Fred feel guilty at all. George was known for being the more patient twin for a reason.

When the mop of dark, curly hair made its entrance, though, it was Fred who was running the shop in Diagon Alley, his usual locale of choice, if he got one. "Good, good, you're right on time," he said hurriedly, eager to get the whole interview over with. Quite frankly, he was just desperate to get people out on the floor and working, interviewing to him was just that annoying side step. He was stepping forward to shake Michael's hand when a group of third years screamed in giggles from the corner over George's latest, the interactive mirror. "Oi, come on to the back, we'll never hear a word out here."

Michael gripped Fred's hand firmly (his father had given him that tip before Michael dashed out thinking he was the world's biggest disappointment). He met Fred's eyes. "Thank you, Mr. Weasley. " Oy, that felt odd. Still, Michael's eyes flickered over to the gaggle of giggling students. "You laugh at it, you buy it," he teased.

Fred lifted an eyebrow, attempting to look stern. In actuality, he was rather impressed. It was a line he himself would've popped out with, and usually at least one of the students would, in fact, make a purchase. In fact, he actually saw two picking up boxes containing the mirrors and walking towards Verity at the checkout.

He probably should've kept a more professional air, but it was odd asking Michael to call him Mr. Weasley. Verity all but insisted on it, and they'd never been close back in school. And while he couldn't say he was close to Michael, they had faced a war together, and learned some of the most complicated spells there were by each others' side. "Please, just Fred," he urged, then nodded towards the back room that doubled as both a lab and an office. "Go ahead, have a seat. Just...not there..." A wary look crossed his face as he glanced at the pile of cloth scraps in the corner of the room. Another of George's brainchildren, he was sure.

Michael glanced around the crowded area, deciding it definitely needed organizing. However, he was smart enough to not say anything. Instead, he took a seat at the nearest empty chair, his smile still firmly in place. It was awkward, but Michael was determined. "Thank you, Fred."

"So..." Fred began, taking a seat across from Michael, "I guess the question on everyone's mind would be, why do you want to work here?" It was a typical interview style question, but Fred had other reasons for asking. Michael didn't exactly seem the joke shop employee who daydreamed about working there his whole life.

That question really stunk no matter how expected it was. Did Michael want the place to be his career? No, not really. But he had a hunch that was the wrong answer. "Well..." He cleared his throat, a very sincere expression crossing his face. "I thought I'd be working in law to be honest, but..." Michael shook his head. "I don't much approve of their ways right now. Maybe one day I'll figure out how to get in there, but right now I need something permanent and where better than some place that I can exercise that big mouth everyone says I have?" He laughed at himself, shaking his head. "It will give me more experience with people and also, hopefully, give me skills on business. I mean, you and George made this place from nothing. Who better to learn from?" The last wasn't said with smoozing in mind. Michael actually meant it.

Well, that wasn't quite the answer that Fred had expected, but he was pleased by it just the same. "We have," he admitted, leaning back in his seat. "I'm sure you remember the old days of selling things out of a box back at school. This? Is what comes of that. We're not above giving promotions, either. I know you're not looking to make a lifetime from this, but it could be some time before the Ministry's regime changes. We're looking to expand, open more stores, possibly even internationally, if that's something you'd be interested in.
It was a huge jump, even suggesting that one day Michael Corner would be running his own branch of the shop, but Fred liked thinkers. And so far, Michael was proving to be just that.

Michael's eyes brightened at the mention of overseas. "I had always thought about international law," he admitted. "It seems my interests might actually help there a bit." He didn't want to be brazen (one of Michael's pitfalls), but Fred had suggested it.

Fred didn't look at it as being brazen at all. In fact, he sort of liked that Michael had jumped on board so quickly. "Do you know the products at all? If not, that's not necessarily a make or break type thing, don't worry about that. They're easy enough to learn, and I'm more worried about having someone who can actually get them out the door and for the right prices, but it's something to consider."

"I believe I was victim to some of those products," Michael reminded the Weasley twin with a sly smile.

"Oh, sure, get technical on me!" Fred teased, grinning slightly. "At least you can attest to the side effects, then. How about marketing? I'm looking for someone with ideas, someone who can get the more popular products out to the public and give the less popular ones a little more attention."

"It's all in making them believe they're getting something for free. But first they need to buy something that they absolutely must have. How's that? Their mates have them, they'll be left out...it's all in attractive shelves and good commercials on the WWN. Know the audience. Do studies. Who's buying what? Why?"

Oh, damn. This kid was too perfect. Not a kid anymore, Fred reminded himself, but a capable adult. Well, maybe mostly capable. "We actually haven't gone ahead with commercials yet," he admitted. "We thought it might be a bit much for a business just starting but I suppose now... Well. I don't think it could hurt, what with kids having to place orders by owl during part of the year."

"Dream big to achieve big it what my dad calls it." Well, that was a childish thing to say. Michael barely held back a blush, but, really, what did he know about the working world without his father's knowledge?

"He's got a point," Fred acknowledged, rather than ridiculing the notion. "If we hadn't thought bigger, we'd still be sending things by mail order from a box in our mum and dad's house. It's not terrible to think higher than you are just...hard, I think. There's always the possibility of failing, after all."

"Oh, I don' t know. Failure isn't really an option for me. Ravenclaw and all." Michael felt surprisingly at ease in saying that. Failure wasn't something he accepted. It was why he worked so hard to go from reserve to team player.

Again, Fred's eyebrows lifted. This time, it really was more out of skepticism than anything else. "I think it's possible for someone in any House to fail, if the right circumstances and attitude hit them."

"Not in my house," Michael answered honestly, "Unless it is on a personal level and then..." He was getting too personal which wasn't what an interview aimed for. Nor was Michael comfortable divulging such.

"It may not be acceptable," Fred reminded him, "but it's possible just the same. Not," he added quickly, "that I think that'll be a problem for you. You've got good business sense." Leaning forward a bit, he considered the young man in front of him carefully. "You would've done the Ministry a bit of good, really."

Michael couldn't tell Fred about his nightmares or how haunted he felt. He wasn't doing himself any good so how would he have done the Ministry any? "Perhaps one day," Michael answered, a note of sadness creeping into his words. "Now is not the time for that."

Fred nodded in understanding. Some people might've considered him less compassionate than his twin, but he did have at least some level of sympathy. "It's rough over there," he said quietly, as if even his own shop was watched. Which it had better not be, or he'd--well, there wasn't much he could do, was there? "Dad looks exhausted every night. It's just as bad as when--" Best to shut up there. He didn't know how much Michael knew about the Order and their fight right under the Ministry's noses. And if they'd done it once before, well, they could again, couldn't they?

"Yes, I know." Michael nodded his understanding. Even if he didn't know the official name, he knew all about the resistance movement. Hell, he had been part of the DA. He was many things, but stupid? Was not one of them. He knew there was no coincidence so many wound up at Hogwarts that night. "I hope it doesn't come to that."

"It won't," Fred said quickly, determined to get off of the subject. He had too many friends and family involved with that Ministry to put too much thought into what might be about to go down. "So... It goes without saying you've got a lot of ideas. I need someone who's flexible. Who doesn't mind working either store when they're needed, and who can work a varied range of shifts."

Michael kind of hated to admit how much of a non-life he had. Adjusting to being home was difficult. He still couldn't really believe he wouldn't be returning to Hogwarts and his friend any time soon. "I have nothing keeping me from working. Either store really."

Fred nodded approvingly, realising a bit too late he probably should've been taking notes. George trusted his judgment, though, always had. He could make the call right then and there, if he wanted. And, well, he found he sort of did. "Our policy is a thirty day probation period. Both for you and for us. We feel each other out, see how you like it, we see how quickly you pick things up. If all goes well, you get reviewed and we up your pay by a galleon. The next time we review you is after ninety days, which is another galleon, and then that continues yearly from there. Does that sound fair?"

Was he actually getting the job? Michael nodded quickly. "Yes, sir. Er, Fred."

Though a part of him couldn't help but think he'd end up regretting this, he got to his feet. "Sounds good to me, then. When are you available to start?"

"As soon as you need me," Michael answered, getting to his feet as well. He held his hand out again. "Thank you, Fred. Really." Michael was more sincere than he ever got in that moment.

Fred's smile was genuine for a change, and he took the hand in his, giving it more a tight squeeze rather than a firm shake. "I'm looking forward to it. We'll start you...Thursday, then? Probably the Hogsmeade store, it's not as busy, and I don't want you facing a weekend in this one your first week. But definitely, we'll give it a try."